Richards Castle sits astride the Shropshire/Herefordshire border on the B4361 about 4 miles south of Ludlow. The old church of St Bartholomew is in Herefordshire, on sloping ground beneath the ancient castle. It is now redundant, All Saints church having been built in 1892 about half a mile away in the Shropshire part of the village.

To find the church, turn right at the pub on the main road and follow the lane uphill for about half a mile. When the road swings right, the church is on the left.(grid reference SO 484703 - postcode SY8 4ET)

Richards Castle came into the hands of the Mortimers of Essex in 1211 and remained under their control until 1304 when the last Mortimer of that name was allegedly murdered with half the knights of his barony by poison administered by his wife.

The heart of the structure was probably built in the twelfth century and therefore predates Mortimer involvement with the lordship. In the north wall of the nave are two early windows, one of which has been half blocked by a buttress put up to stop the wall toppling over. Beneath the chancel can be seen the remains of a crypt where a hermit may have once lived. The rectangular detached tower may well date to the time of Mortimer lordship, as too might the later south aisle. The irregular north transept was apparently consecrated in 1351 for the Knights Templar.

Notes by Paul RemfryFor more historical details of the lordship please refer to this webpage on the barony click hereFor more information about this fascinating church visit these two websites link 1 - link 2

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